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Behavioral Economics
Behavioral economics is a powerful, evidence-based tool for both understanding and influencing human behavior in individuals, groups, and institutions. With its focus on the social, cognitive, and emotional factors that affect personal economic decisions, it is rapidly gaining attention as an innovative opportunity to help improve consumer choices and behaviors. Leaders in the field include Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, and Richard Thaler, as well as Cass Sunstein, who have published work on building choice architecture to promote certain decisions through “nudges.”
The Vitality Institute supports the use of principles of behavioral economics to promote healthy habits. These include specific behaviors such as smoking cessation, healthier eating and weight loss, and medication adherence through financial incentives, lotteries, choice architecture, and framing.
The Evidence
From the Blog
Conclusions from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017
Each year in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum hosts their Annual Meeting. This year’s Annual Meeting had the theme of Responsive and Responsible Leadership. Following my return, I wanted to share my conclusions with... More »Derek Yach | Jan 24, 2017
behavioral economics, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, China, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, disease prevention, Edelman Trust Barometer, Health, technology, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Wellcome Trust, Willis Towers Watson, World Economic Forum, Xi Jinping
From the Blog
Vitality Group Featured as Health Innovation Leader in New World Economic Forum Report
Vitality Group’s program has been featured as a leading innovator in health in a report by the World Economic Forum. Published in collaboration with Willis Towers Watson, the report was released today at the World... More »Derek Yach | Jan 19, 2017
behavioral economics, behaviors, chronic disease, Daniel Kahneman, engagement, Health, healthy food, innovation, nudges, physical activity, prevention, Vitality, Willis Towers Watson, workplace health, World Economic Forum
From the Blog
Redefining the unacceptable: Making prevention of disease and promotion of health priorities
Blog post is based on Derek Yach’s TEDx talk in Monte Carlo on November 26, 2016 Governments and businesses spend more than 95% of healthcare costs responding to the consequences of neglected disease prevention and... More »Derek Yach | Nov 26, 2016
business, chronic disease prevention, Daniel Kahneman, government, health promotion, healthcare, mental health, Monte Carlo, Nobel Prize, Nutrition, physical activity, productivity, TEDx, transparency, well-being
From the Blog
Canadian Leadership: The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion After 30 Years
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, which proposed an international effort to achieve better health for all by 2000, celebrates its 30th anniversary on November 21, 2016. The tactics espoused by the Ottawa Charter, largely... More »Gillian Christie | Nov 21, 2016
behavioral economics, Canada, Canadians, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, Ottawa Charter, private sector, technologies, World Health Organization
From the Blog
Improving the Health of Canadians: Vitality Enters Canada with Manulife
In 1946, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Constitution outlined a comprehensive definition of health as: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”... More »Gillian Christie | Oct 4, 2016
Canada, chronic disease, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, Manulife Vitality, Marc Lalonde, mental health, Ottawa Charter, physical health, social well-being, technology, World Health Organization
From the Blog
Wearables Weekly
Wearables Weekly Brought to you by Sarah Kunkle and Gillian Christie, Wearables Weekly is a weekly newsletter highlighting noteworthy stories and leading insights into wearable tracking devices and other personalized health technologies. Please contact gchristie@thevitalitygroup.com... More »Gillian Christie and Sarah Kunkle | Jun 20, 2016
health technology, innovative technology, personalized health technology, technology, wearables
From the Blog
Harnessing the Power of Women to Beat Diabetes
April 7 marks the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Day. This year’s theme – Beat Diabetes – comes at a critical time when 415 million people are affected by diabetes worldwide. The campaign aims... More »Gabriela Seplovich and Adriana Selwyn | Apr 7, 2016
diabetes, International Diabetes Federation, Nutrition, personalized health technology, type 2 diabetes, WHO, women, World Health Day, World Health Organization
From the Blog
Incentivizing Healthy Food Choices for Better Health
One year ago today, John Hancock and Vitality embarked on a collaboration to create a whole new type of life insurance: a shared value approach whereby financial benefits from individuals living healthier and longer lives... More »Adriana Selwyn | Apr 6, 2016
environment, greenhouse gas emissions, HealthyFood, John Hancock USA, John Hancock Vitality, Nutrition, planetary health, Rockefeller Foundation, shared value insurance, South Africa, sustainability, The Lancet, USA, water use
From the Blog
“Move for Health” – Physical Activity and Diabetes Prevention
Diabetes is a disorder that causes blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal. The most common form of diabetes is Type 2, or non-insulin dependent diabetes. With this disease, your body does not use... More »Kristie Willenborg | Apr 5, 2016
Agita Mundo, American Heart Association, diabetes, glycemic index, National Walking Day, Nutrition, risk factors, type 2 diabetes, United States, WHO, World Day for Physical Activity, World Health Organization
From the Blog
Making Strides: Fitness versus Food Tech
Do you want to track your physical activity? There are countless options for smartwatches and fitness trackers that automatically record your daily steps and workouts. Do you want to track your nutrition? Unfortunately, your options... More »Sarah Kunkle and Gillian Christie | Mar 29, 2016
